US3777603A

US3777603A - Hollow vane shear

Info

Publication number: US3777603A
Application number: US00241343A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Tracy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-04-05
Filing date: 1972-04-05
Publication date: 1973-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-11

Abstract

A device for cutting to length, by shearing, material known in the sheet metal and air conditioning trades as ''''hollow turning vanes'''' and which device employs a wedge shaped, sharply pointed blade to enter and pierce the top side of the vane without undue distortion and a bottom blade unit having a pair of spaced blades conforming to the bottom contour of the vane with means for forcing the upper blade into and through the bottom blade unit thereby shearing the vane with guides for the blade and clamp means for holding the vane in position during cutting also being provided. The device includes length adjustment means to control the length of the vane being cut and an automatic switching device to initiate the action of the various elements which switching device is automatically shiftable after initiating the operation such that the cut vane will not be held after cutting and will be free to drop from the device.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Tracy Dec. 11, 1973 HOLLOW VANE SHEAR [76] Inventor: John William Franklin Tracy, 1820 Fremont Ave. North, Minneapolis, Minn. 55411 22 Filed: Apr. 5, 1972 21 Appl.No.:241,343

[52] US. Cl 83/212, 83/282, 83/372, 83/268, 83/391, 83/467, 83/636 [51] Int. Cl B26d 5/28, 826d 5/38, B26d 7/16 [58] Field of Search 83/212, 282, 372, 83/380, 390, 391, 268,467 A, 524, 636

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,607,074 8/1952 Slaughter 83/210 X 3,426,631 2/1969 Sandberg 83/212 X 1,964,457 6/1934 Diamond 83/636 2,387,650 10/1945 Davis 83/212 X 2,572,137 10/1951 Grieder... 83/210 2,327,920 8/1943 Moohl 83/380 2,144,335 1/1939 Jensen et a1. 83/210 Primary ExaminerWillie G. Abercrombie Att0rney.James R. Cwayna [57] ABSTRACT A device for cutting to length, by shearing, material known in the sheet metal and air conditioning trades as hollow turning vanes and which device employs a wedge shaped, sharply pointed blade to enter and pierce the top side of the vane without undue dist0rtion and a bottom blade unit having a pair of spaced blades conforming to the bottom contour of the vane with means for forcing the upper blade into and through the bottom blade unit thereby shearing the vane with guides for the blade and clamp means for holding the vane in position during cutting also being provided. The device includes length adjustment means to control the length of the vane being cut and an automatic switching device to initiate the action of the various elements which switching device is automatically shiftable after initiating the operation such that the cut vane will not be held after cutting and will be free to drop from the device.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED [1E6] 1 I973 3.771.603 SHEE 1 BF 4 NJUHRN PAIENIEDBEc 1 1 I975 3.771603 SEES 3 EF 4 5 FIG.5

FIG.7

FIGQ6' PAIENIEDHEB H mm 3777.503

Q 54 I56 0 25 CW 60 V/ 540 56 S UPPLY FIG.8

FIG.9

HOLLOW VANE SHEAR Hollow turning vanes are well understood in the art of heating and air conditioning andthese vanes are devices that are formed from two individual sheets of material joined at their lateral edgeswhereinthe first inner sheet is provided with a first radius and the second sheet arranged therebehind is provided with a second radius such that a space is provided betweenthe sheets. The concept of such a vane is that at the corners of duct work the cross sectional area of the duct is obviously greater than that in the straight 'line portion of the duct and the insertion of these vanes not only reduces the cross sectional air flow area but also turns the air flowing therethrough smoothly around the corner.

In the past these vanes have normally been cut through a sawing process and when cutting such a structure much distortion of the two surfaces may result and a smooth cut is not achieved. The time of such sawing is also relatively great in comparison with applicants concept and with the labor costs as they presently exist this time consuming situation is of extreme importance.

With applicants concept, a shearing unit is provided which will effectively shear both of the surfaces forming a hollow vane while the vane is held in aposition to retain its desired and preformed shape. Applicants device then may be said to substantially eliminate any distortion of the member during the shearing process.

Applicants device is further arranged for automatic operation and continuous sizing operation by providing a first operation initiating switch member adjustably arrangeable with respect to the cutting blade such that the length of the piece to be cut may be preset and thereafter when the raw material is fed thereagainst the switch will be tripped and the cutting process initiated FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevation illustrating the unit in a solid line non-cutting position and a dotted line follow through or cutting position;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially along Line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially along Line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged portion of FIG. 6 particularly the blade guide portion thereof;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration ofa pneumatic control system for the device; and,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a hollow vane for which the cutter is designed.

In accordance with the accompanying drawings applicants main cutting unit is generally designated 10.

and while this cutting process is being carried on, this same switch member will be moved away from contacting position with the material to be cut such that after cutting the material is not in a clamped relation to the unit and is free to fall from the shearing and cutting device.

It is therefore an object of applicants invention to provide a shearing device for hollow vanes which includes a shearing member arranged to pierce and cut 7 through both sections of a hollow vane without providing or producing any distortion thereof.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a hollow vane cutter having a first operation initiating switch member which switch member may be set to cut predetermined lengths of the hollow vane.

It is a further object of applicants invention to pro vide a hollow vane cutter or the like having a first switch member arranged to initiate a clamping and cutting action upon a hollow vane and during this clamping and cutting action to be removed from contact with the vane such that after cutting and shearing of the vane the vane is free to drop from the unit. These and other objects and advantages of applicants device will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencecharacters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which;

FIG. I is a side elevation of a cutting device embodying the concepts ofapplicants invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

A support frame including downwardly extending legs 11 are arranged to elevate the device and longitudinal 12 andtransverse frame elements 13 are provided to connect the vertical support members 11 and form a rigid mounting for the unit. Obviously such a frame can be easily constructed and the frame elements are not totally important to the subject matter of the invention. The invention basically includes a cutting head device designated in its entirety 14, a front clamping and material entrance device 15 and a length adjustment and initiating portion 16.

The cutting head portion 14 includes a pair of

vertical support members

17, 18 and a top transverse support member 19 to provide a frame work which extends vertically through the afore mentioned support frame work and second vertical guiding

support members

20, 21 are provided interiorly of the side supports l7, l8 and these members provide a tracking system for a guillotine type blade movement for the cutting unit. The

moveable cutting portion arranged within and on the

guides

20, 21 includes a pair of

side support struts

22, 23 which are designed to ride in the afore mentioned

guide members

20, 21 and these struts extend from a horizontal blade attachment plate 24 downwardly to a horizontal connecting element 25 which connecting element is in turn connected to the ram portion 26 of a hydraulic cylinder or the like 27. Upon actuation of the cylinder 27 the rod 26 will be retracted therein and pull this frame work consisting of

side elements

22, 23 and

horizontal elements

24, 25 downwardly.

Attached to the upper horizontal element 24 is acutting blade designated 30 which blade 30, in the form shown, is particularly formed for both piercing and cutting actions. A sharp piercing tip is provided and the blade tapers transversely outwardly therefrom to a decrease in such taper which decrease occurs, for example as at 30a, which would correspond to the width of the vane to be cut. The concept here is that the vane includes folded over portions at the edges thereof and a slower cutting action is required to move and shear through the double thickness at these edge portions. The blade then smoothly curves backwardly from this reduced tapered portion and the total thickness of the blade and the distance between the

guide arms

22, 23 is arranged to provide cutting of vanes which are of various widths. v

The blade is not sharpened to a point in other than its frontal dimension and basically a shearing action rather than a slicing action of this blade is obtained thereby.

In order to more perfectly guide the path of the blade 30, a pair of

roller members

31, 32 are provided on either side of the blade such that the blade will be held in vertical registration with a bottom blade or cutting area which backs up and holds the vane in cutting position.

This bottom blade assembly is as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, substantially V-shaped and is designated in its entirty on these two figures as 35. This bottom blade area includes

support blocks

36, 37 having hardened

cutting elements

38, 39 secured on the upper surface thereof, and .as illustrated in FIG. 7, these support blocks and hardened cutting elements are arranged on both sides of the blade 30 such that the vane which is designated V will be supported during the shearing action on both sides of the sheared portion. As particularly illustrated in FIG. 7, the back up support

members

36, 37 are spaced at one dimension from each other on opposite sides of the blade while the

actual cutting elements

38, 39 are arranged relatively closer to the blade 30 such that the blade 30 may pass therethrough but the concept of spacing the back up elements 36, 37 a greater distance is to insure that the slug of material being sheared from the vane by this shearing action will not lodge therebetween and prevent movement of the blade 30.

The clamping section designated includes a vane supporting section 40 which is substantially V-shaped and is supported on the various frame work portions of the device and extends outwardly of the device a predetermined distance such that a substantial length of the vane inserted therein will be supported. Between this support section 40 and the blade a clamping device is arranged and includes a pistion and cylinder member 41 mounted on a support bracket 42 which extends horizontally across the machine to be again supported on frame work portions thereof with the piston 43 extending vertically therethrough to a clamping element 44 which clamping element again extends horizontally across the unit and is guided for movement in a plane to maintain such planar arrangment such that upon actuation of the cylinder 41 the clamping element 44 will move downwardly to contact the vane and properly hold it against the

bottom cutting blades

38, 39. For this reason it is obvious that the support section must be spaced from the cutting blade such that this clamping element 44 is free to move downwardly and clamp between itself and these cutting blades. This clamping and support device is arranged for receiving various sizes of vanes and when cutting the large size vanes a curved support member will be received into the supporting section 40 to provide a back up for such larger size vanes.

The length adjustment device generally designated 16 includes a track member having a groove 51 formed therein such that a T-member will slide smoothly in the track and which T-member is further provided with a tightening handle 52 for proper positioning thereof along the track 50. Extending down from this T-shaped member is a piston mounting framework 53 that is obviously moveable therewith and mounted on such framework is a first piston cylinder member 54 which extends therethrough and has on its actuating rod 55 an actuating switch member 56. This entire unit is moveable along the rails 50 and a scale 57 is provided thereon with an indicator 58 attached to the moveable portions such that the length from the actuatinsertion of a vane into the cutting area and against the actuating switch 56 the clamping device 15 and the cutting action of the cutting head 14 will be initiated. Upon initiation of the clamping and cutting a bleed off of the pressure in the cylinder 54 holding the switch 56 in normally extended position will occur and upon this pressure drop an internal spring will retract the switch 56 rearwardly such that the only means left holding the vane is the clamp element 15. Therefore after cutting of the vane, the cut portion is free to drop from the cutting area as there is no holding force being applied thereto by the switch 56, piston 54 combination. Upon completion of this cut and dropping of the cut vane, the switch 56 will be shifted into its actuating extended position.

In order to further control the various actions of the cutting head and clamping portions a pair of vertically spaced

switching valve elements

60, 61 are arranged in position to be tripped by the movement of the blade supporting framework. In the form shown a switch contacting device 2521 is arranged on the side of the bottom horizontal support 25 and as the cutting framework moves upwardly and downwardly tripping of these two

valves

60, 61 will occur. In order to coordinate all of these control functions and the various pistons a valve member 65 is arranged on the frame.

The schematic diagram is designed for an air supply but it should be obvious that various other systems could be utilized to accomplish the operation of applicants device. As illustrated, valve 56 is a three way pilot valve which is normally closed and which is utilized to initiate the action of the device. As the vane strikes the actuating lever 56a thereof it is shifted to open position and supply air flows therethrough to shift the position of the double, pilot operated four-way valve 65. This shifting will allow supply air to flow through P-l to retract the cutting head moving cylinder 27. This will draw the blade downwardly. At this same time, pressure flowing through this same port will actuate the clamping piston 41 driving the clamping element 44 onto the vane V to positively hold the same. As the cylinder 27 is retracting, the operative cam 25a carried thereby is disengaged from valve 60. Valve 60 is a three way normally closed valve and air from the gauge cylinder 54 is now allowed to bleed through the exhaust port of valve 60 allowing the internal spring 54 thereof to move the valve 56 rearwardly from material engaging position therefore allowing the sheared material to be free to fall out of the machine after it is sheared. As the blade moving cylinder 27 reaches the end of its stroke, the cam 25a will actuate valve 61, this valve being a three way normally closed pilot. As this valve 61 opens, supply air flows through it and shifts the position of the main valve 65. Air then flows through P-2 of valve 65 and returns the cutting cylinder 27 to its upward position while simultaneously retracting the clamping piston 41 and when the cam 25a carried by the cutting head driving cylinder reaches the valve 60 it will actuate the valve causing it to open and thereby allowing air to be supplied therethrough to the piston 54 to again extend the switch 56 into proper position to receive and be actuated by new material.

It should be obvious that applicant has provided a new and unique material shearing device particularly directed to shearing hollow vanes without distorting the same.

What I claim is:

1. A shearing device for shearing hollow vanes, including:

a. a mounting frame;

b. a shearing head including a shearing blade and means having a piercing end and'tapering rearwardly for moving said blade through and from a shearing area;

c. a pair of spaced blade receiving members arranged said sensing means from material contacting position whereby material is free to drop from said shearing area after shearing.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and length indicating and measuring means mounted ori said frame, said sensing means being carried adjustably thereon.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 and material sup porting means on said frame in alignment with said shearing area on the side of said blade opposite said sensing means for supporting material in said shearing area.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 and said material supporting means being substantially V-shaped.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1 and spaced support means arranged on said frame in position to support and carry said spaced blade receiving members.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5 and said spaced support means being spaced from one another a distance greater than the spacing between said blade receiving members.

7. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said circuit means including a pair of shearing blade portion sensing means shifting said sensing means from material contacting position upon activation of one of said pair and returning said sensing means to material contacting position upon activation of the other of said pair.

Claims

1. A shearing device for shearing hollow vanes, including: a. a mounting frame; b. a shearing head including a shearing blade and means having a piercing end and tapering rear-wardly for moving said blade through and from a shearing area; c. a pair of spaced blade receiving members arranged respectively on either side of said shearing area and allowIng said blade to pass therebetween, said blade receiving members being substantially V-shaped; d. sensing means shiftably mounted on said frame in alignment with said shearing area to abut with material inserted therein in a first position and retractable therefrom out of material contacting position in a second position; and, e. means cooperative associated with said sensing means including control means actuating said blade moving means in response to material abutting with said sensing means and thereafter shifting said sensing means from material contacting position whereby material is free to drop from said shearing area after shearing.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and length indicating and measuring means mounted on said frame, said sensing means being carried adjustably thereon.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 and material supporting means on said frame in alignment with said shearing area on the side of said blade opposite said sensing means for supporting material in said shearing area.